Lalaei
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15/03/2022 20u Mezrab Storytelling Center, Amsterdam
17/03/2022 20u Klarafestival, Bozar, Brussels 18/03/2022 20.15u Handelsbeurs, Ghent 19/03/2022 20u deSingel, Antwerp 20/03/2022 16u Concertgebouw Brugge 22/04/2022 20u CC Ter Dilft, Bornem 24/04/2022 20.15u Lunalia Festival, Mechelen Music & concept: Zwerm Singer: Sarah Akbari Drums: Karen Willems Storytelling: Marie Phillips Direction: Raphael Rodan Scenography: Stef Depover Dramaturgy: WALPURGIS & Farnoosh Farnia Production: Zwerm and WALPURGIS Coproduction: deSingel and Klara Festival Podcast: Teletext with the support of the Flemish Government and Stad Antwerpen |
Go to sleep, may I suffer all your pain,
Go to sleep, may tomorrow all our wishes come true,
The night won’t last forever,
Soon the sunlight will appear,
But alas, a hundred times alas,
If only your mother were here…
How do you lull your child to sleep when confronted with violence, in whatever form? And where do you find the words to tell what that does to you deep inside? These and other questions were triggered during the making process of 'Lalaei'.
In this unique cross-cultural collaboration between Belgian-Dutch band Zwerm and percussionist Karen Willems, Iranian singer Sarah Akbari, British storyteller Marie Phillips, Israeli director Raphael Rodan and music theatre company Walpurgis, we explore the hidden darkness behind the seemingly innocent songs sung to children. Heart-rending Middle Eastern lullabies are interwoven with a grim story from Ovid's ‘Metamorphoses’. Marie Phillips tells the tale of Procne: a noble queen, a dutiful daughter, an obedient wife, a loving mother. But one day, her sister is hurt in an unimaginable way, and all her supressed rage rushes to the surface, threatening to destroy herself and everyone around her. The story is presented in English and touches on current themes such as #metoo and speaking up against injustice. Themes that also permeate the world of young adults.
Go to sleep, may tomorrow all our wishes come true,
The night won’t last forever,
Soon the sunlight will appear,
But alas, a hundred times alas,
If only your mother were here…
How do you lull your child to sleep when confronted with violence, in whatever form? And where do you find the words to tell what that does to you deep inside? These and other questions were triggered during the making process of 'Lalaei'.
In this unique cross-cultural collaboration between Belgian-Dutch band Zwerm and percussionist Karen Willems, Iranian singer Sarah Akbari, British storyteller Marie Phillips, Israeli director Raphael Rodan and music theatre company Walpurgis, we explore the hidden darkness behind the seemingly innocent songs sung to children. Heart-rending Middle Eastern lullabies are interwoven with a grim story from Ovid's ‘Metamorphoses’. Marie Phillips tells the tale of Procne: a noble queen, a dutiful daughter, an obedient wife, a loving mother. But one day, her sister is hurt in an unimaginable way, and all her supressed rage rushes to the surface, threatening to destroy herself and everyone around her. The story is presented in English and touches on current themes such as #metoo and speaking up against injustice. Themes that also permeate the world of young adults.
